Experience, depth should help improve MSU's secondary

Mississippi State defensive back Jamal Peters (2) reaches up and intercepts a pass intended for Mississippi wide receiver Quincy Adeboyejo (8) in the end zone in the 2016 Egg Bowl.

STARKVILLE — There are a few things different about Mississippi State’s secondary this spring — especially regarding the cornerbacks — in comparison to last season’s group, but one change in particular may be the most significant.

Corner was a problem in 2016 for Mississippi State, which allowed the most passing yards in the SEC at 281.5 yards per game — 31.5 more than any team in the league. The Bulldogs also allowed 31.8 points per game, which ranked 13th in the SEC.

The issue stemmed from a lack of depth and inexperience.

Both concerns may now be resolved.

Jamal Peters will begin his second season at corner after moving from safety. The Bassfield native ended the season as MSU’s best cover corner. Lashard Durr is also back for a second full season at the position and Jamoral Graham returns as well. Redshirt freshman Cam Dantzler has drawn rave reviews from coaches and players. True freshman Tyler Williams is a newcomer as an early-enrollee from Lafayette.

Tolando Cleveland, a projected starter for the 2016 team, is back after tearing his ACL last August and should be in line for significant playing time if he remains healthy. Buckley said Cleveland isn’t quite 100 percent, but is participating in team drills.

Peters, Cleveland and Dantzler all stand 6-feet or taller.

“It’s awesome to have (Cleveland) back,” Buckley said. “You really don’t know how important it is until you don’t have him.”

Peters improved “tremendously,” Buckley said, but he still needs to work on playing the ball, learning angles, taking proper steps and winning leap balls. Peters appeared in 11 games this season. He started two at corner. The pinnacle of his season came against Ole Miss. He finished with two tackles, a pass breakup and an interception.

MSU’s corners are comprised of breakout candidates, newcomers with talent and good comeback stories, but Buckley wants more.

The rest of the safeties roster includes Mark McLaurin, Brandon Bryant, Brian Cole, C.J. Morgan, Jacquarius Landrews, Jonathan Abram, and Hayes Walker. Bryant and McLaurin are entering their junior seasons at safety and provide some stability while newcomers like Cole and Abram are early-enrollees with Division I experience who are pushing returnees for playing time.

Abram, in particular, has garnered positive reviews from his peers and coaches.

A weakness last year, MSU’s secondary could be as talented a position group there is on the team with plenty of competition for playing time and several guys able to provide depth.

“This is what it’s about,” Buckley said. “You get some guys and you compete and play. If you can’t handle that challenge here, and you’re talking about playing at the next level? You got to be kidding. You should love this.”